Awnings



v Jul); 1959 R. L. HUMPHREY 2,893,073

AWNINGS Filed March 14, 1955 o o J \O o INVENTOR.

RALPH LHUMPHREY United States Patent f AWNINGS Ralph L. Humphrey,Wichita, Kans. Application March 14, 1955, Serial No. 493,885

' 3 Claims. c1. 20--s7.5

This invention relates to improvements in awnings. More particularly,this invention relates to improvements in awnings that are made fromindividual slats which are mounted on a support.

It is therefore an object of the present invention toprovide an improvedawning that is made from individual slats which are mounted on asupport.

In the manufacture of awnings, it is frequently desirable to prepare anumber of individual slats and to mount those slats on a support.Awnings that are made in this way can usually be made long or short, asdesired. Furthermore, awnings that are made in that way can usually bemade inexpensively. However, in the past, awnings that were made in thatway had a tendency to create noises when the wind blew. Such noises areobjectionable, and therefore a numher of awnings, that have been made bymounting individual slats on a support, have been objectionable. Thepresent invention obviates these objections by providing an awning whichis made by mounting a number of individual slats on a support but whichminimizes the creation of noises. It is therefore an object of thepresent invention to provide an awning which is made by mountingindividual slats on a support but which is noiseless. I

The present invention minimizes noises in awnings by forming the awningsfrom jindividual slats that can be connected together in such a way thatthey are continuously under tension. The tension obviates any loosenessor play between the various slats of the awning, and thereby minimizesthe creation of noises. It is therefore an object of the presentinvention to provide an awning wherein the slats are connected togetherin such a way that they are continuously under tension.

I The awning slats provided by the present invention have generallyflatsurfaces or sections at their centers, and have interacting surfaces attheir edges. The interacting surfaces at the edges of adjacent slatshave male and female components; and the male component at one edge of aslat will coact with the female component at one edge of an adjacentslat to interconnect those slats. The male component at the oppositeedge of the one slat will coact with the female component at one edge ofanother adjacent slat to interconnect those slats. In this way, theinteracting surfaces at the edges of the slats coact to interconnect anumber of slats. The length of the awning can be adjusted by varying thenumber of slats that are interconnected by the interacting surfaces atthe edges of the slats.

The interacting surfaces at the edges of the awning slats provided bythe present invention project laterally from the central surfaces orsections of those awning slats, and they thus provide a stiffeningaction. This stiffening action is desirable because it enables the slatsto resist bending, even when those slats are made quite long. It istherefore an object of the present invention to provide awning slatswith interacting surfaces that project laterally from thecentralsurfaces or sections of those slats.

2,893,973 Patented July 7, 1959 The interacting surfaces at the edges ofthe awning slats provided by the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention are S-shaped in cross section. The upper arm or male componentof each S-shaped interacting surface can fit into the lower arm orfemale component of an adjacent S-shaped interacting surface. Where thisis done, the upper arm and the lower arm provide a substantiallycontinuous engagement between arcuate surfaces. Such an engagement is'substantially water tight. Hence, awnings made from the slats providedby the present invention can be substantially water tight. It istherefore an object of the present invention to provide awnings withinteracting surfaces at the edges thereof which are S-shaped in crosssection.

The S-shaped interacting surfaces at the edges of the awning slats areformed so the throats of the lower arms must be distended by the upperarms of adjacent slats when those upper arms are telescoped into thoselower arms. That distention is desirable because it creates the tensionthat minimizes noises. Furthermore that distention is desirable becauseit enables the throats of the lower arms to provide holding forces onthe upper arms of adjacent slats that will hold the slats together untilthey can be mounted on the support;

The S shaped interacting surfaces at the edges of the awning slatprovided by the present invention are formed so the outside radii of theupper arms are substantially equal to the inside radii of the lowerarms. Moreover, the lower arms are made so their angular lengths exceedone hundred and eighty degrees. Such a relationship facilitates a closefit between the interacting surfaces at the edges of adjacent awnings.Moreover, that relationship enables the lower arms of the interactingsurfaces at the edges of adjacent awning slats to lock each otheragainst accidental separation.

The S-shaped interacting surfaces at the edges of the awning slat of thepresent invention can be interconnected with other S-shaped interactingsurfaces or can be interconnected with a tubular element. The otherS-shaped interacting surfaces can be part of other awning slats, and thetubular element can be carried by other awning slats. For example, thattubular element can be carried by the awning slats in one of the endsections of an awning. The ability of the S-shaped interacting surfacesto'interchangeably receive a tubular element or other S-shapedinteracting surfaces is very desirable because it makes it possible foran awning to be ended or extended at any awning slat.

The mounting of a tubular element on an end section 'of an awning isvery desirable since it makes the assembly of that end section with therest of the awning quite easy. In fact, it makes it possible to assemblethe end section in the shop and to assemble it with the rest of theawning in the field.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention shouldbecome apparent from an examination of the drawing and accompanyingdescription. In the drawing and accompanying description a preferredembodiment of the present invention is shown and described but it is tobe understood that the drawing and accompanying description are for thepurpose of illustration only and do not limit the invention and that theinvention will be defined by the appended claims.

In the drawing,

Fig. l is a front elevational view of an awning that is made inaccordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention,

Fig. 2 is an end view of the awning shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is asectional view of a portion of the awning shown in Figs. 1and 2, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line Er-=3 inFig. I,

Fig. 4 is an end view of a portion of an interacting surface of one ofthe awning slats used in the awning of Figs. 1 and 2, I

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of another portion of the awning of Figs. 1and 2, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 55 in Fig.1,

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of still another section of the awning ofFigs. 1 and 2, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 6-6in Fig. 2,

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of yet another portion of the awning of Figs.1 and 2, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 77 inFig. 2, and

Fig. 8 is a partial view of one of the vertical awning slats of theawnings of Figs. 1 and 2 and of the tubular element secured to thatawning slat.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the numeralsll), 12, 14, 16, 18, 20and 22 denote elongated awning slats that are made of resilient materialin accordance with the principles and teachings of the presentinvention. The slats 19, 14, 18 and 22 are slightly longer than theslats 12, 16 and 20, but in all other respects the slats are identical.Each of the slats has a generally flat central surface or section, andhas interacting surfaces or flanges at the edges thereof. Actually, thecentral surface or section is corrugated in the particular modificationshown, but the overall effect is that of a generally fiat surface orsection. The interacting surfaces or flanges at the edges of the awningslats have upper arms or male components 24 and also have lower arms orfemale components 26. The upper arms 24 and the lower arms 26 define anarcuate surface of S-shaped cross section.

As emphasized particularly in Fig. 4, the upper arms 24 and the lowerarms 26 are defined by arcs which have their centers on straight linesthat pass through the junctions of the upper arms 24 and the lower arms26. The radius a of the inner surfaces of the lower arms 26 issubstantially equal to the radius b of the outer surfaces of the upperarms 24. This fact assures a close fit between the upper arms and thelower arms of adjacent awnings whenever those upper arms are telescopedinto those lower arms.

Each of the upper arms 24 should be one hundred and eighty degrees orless in angular length; and each of the lower arms 26 should be longerthan one hundred and eighty degrees in angular length. The longerangular lengths of the lower arms provide those arms with throats whichare narrower than the outside dimensions of the upper arms 24. As aresult, insertion of the upper arms 24 into the lower arms 26 will causedistention of the lower arms 26. The interacting surfaces of the awningslats will be sp'ringy, and thus the lower arms can be distended. Thatdistention results in a snap action when the upper arm 24 of one awningslat is pressed into the lower arm 26 of an adjacent awning slat; and itwill also provide a holding force that will resist separation of theadjacent awning slats.

As emphasized particularly in Fig. 3, the upper arm 24 of the slat 22telescopes into the lower arm 26 of the slat 20, and the upper arm 24 ofthe slat 20 telescopes into the lower arm 26 of the slat 22. During thetelescoping action, both of the lower arms 26 were distended; and afterthe slats were assembled, as shown in Fig. 3, the lower arms 26 appliedholding forces to the upper arms 24. Hence, the interacting surfacesprovide two holding forces, one at each end of the lower arms 26 of theadjacent slats 20 and 22.

The engagement between the interacting surfaces of the adjacent slats isquite close and it prevents any play. Furthennore, that engagement isunder tension and will minimize any and all movement of one slatrelative to the other after the slats have been interconnected. Moreover, that engagement is so intimate that it resiststhe passage of Waterbetween the two slats. .Hence, the interacting surfaces at the edges ofthe slats make the awning waterproof andnoiseless. I w

A portion of the interacting. ggrfaces. of eachof the slats 12, 1'4, 16,18, and. 22 put away, as at 48 in Fig. 2. The cut away portion isgenerally triangular, and when it is removed it will permit the lowerends of those slats to be bent at an angle to the upper sections ofthose slats. This bending enables the upper sections of the slats to beinclined downwardly in water-shedding position while permitting thelower port-ions of the slats to be vertically directed.

The differences in the lengths of the slats 10, 14, 18 and 22 and theslats 12, 16 and 20 is concentrated in the lower ends of those slats,and it is intended to provide an ornamental appearance for the awning.That difference in length does not affect the operation or effectivenessof the awning.

The upper sections of the slats 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 and 22 aresecured to a rain-shed 50 by fasteners 52 shown in the drawing asrivets. Those fasteners will extend through the lower arms 26 of theawning slats 10, 14, 18 and 22 and will extend into the upper arms ofthe awning slats 12, 16 and 20. In this way, the fasteners 52 willfixedly secure the slats 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 and 22 to the rain-shed50.

That rain-shed has a downwardly directed flange at the upper endthereof, and that flange fits behind and is held by a plate 54. Thatplate is secured to a suitable wall or other support by the fasteners56. For example, the plate 54 could be secured to the facade of abuilding over the front entrance thereof or could be secured to theexterior of a building adjacent and above a window.

The vertically directed lower ends of the slats 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20and 22 are secured to a horizontally directed angle 36. As indicatedparticularly in Fig. 5, fasteners 42, shown in the form of rivets, passthrough openings in the angle 36, through opening in the lower arms ofslats 12, 16 and 20, and seat in openings in the upper arms of slats 10,14, 18 and 22. Those fasteners fixedly secure the slats 10, 12, 14, 16,18, 20 and 22 to the angle 36.

The ends of the angle 36 will be suitably secured to angles that extendoutwardly from the building or support to which the awning is secured.One such angle is denoted by the numeral 38, and it is shown at theright hand end of the awning,as that awning is viewed in Fig. l. Theother such angle is at the left hand end of the awning, as that awningis viewed in Fig. l. The three angles coact to form a generally U-shapedsupport on which the slats can be mounted.

As emphasized particularly in Fig. 6, a number of slats are secured tothe angles which extend forwardly from the building or support on whichthe awning is mounted. The slats which are secured to the angle 38 aredenoted by the numerals 28, 30, 32 and 34. Those slats are identical tothe slats 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 and 22, except for their length andexcept for the fact that the upper ends thereof are cut at an angle. Asshown in Fig. 6, fasteners 42, in the form of rivets, extend throughopenings in the angle 38 and seat in openings in the upper arms 24 ofslats 32 and 34. In this way those fasteners will fixedly secure thoseslats to that angle. The righthand end of the angle 38 can be suitablysecured to the building or support by a fastener 44, shown in the formof a wood screw.

It will be noted that the central sections and the lower arms of eachawning slat overlie the upper arms of that awning slat. This is verydesirable because it tends to shield the upper arms of the slats fromdirect contact with rain, sleet and snow. Hence, the fasteners whichextend into the upper arms 24 will be shielded, to some extent, from theelements.

A tubular element 46 is secured to the upper ends of the slats 28, 30,32 and 34 by fasteners 42. Openings 43 are provided in the wall of thetubular element 46, opposite to the openings which receive thefasteners, to permit a tool to be inserted to engage and act upon thosefasteners. That tubular element is dimensioned so its diameterapproximates the diameter of the upper arms 24 of the variousinteracting surfaces of the awning slats. Hence, as emphasizedparticularly in Fig. 7, that tubular element can telescope snugly withinthe lower arm 26 of an adjacent awning slat.

The tubular element 46 and the angle 38 provide a desired amount ofrigidity for the righthand end section of the awning, and a similartubular element and angle do the same for the lefthand end section ofthe awning. That rigidity makes it possible for those end sections to bepre-assembled in the shop. The rain-shed 50 and the angle 36 makes itpossible to pre-assemble the central portion of the awning in the shop.Hence it is only necessary, in the field, to mount the plate 54, to snapthe tubular elements 46 into the lower arms 26 of the awning slats and22, to connect the outer ends of the angle 38 and its counterpart withthe ends of the angle 36, to slip the upper end of rain-shed 50 over theupper end of plate 54, and to insert the fasteners 44.

In the assembly of the central section of the awning, the initialengagement between the awning slats is obtained and maintained by thespringy action of the inter-acting surfaces. Specifically, the adjacentslats are set so the generally flat central surfaces thereof aredisposed in two separate planes and so the interacting surfaces ofadjacent slats confront each other. Thereupon the adjacent slats aremoved laterally toward each other until the upper arms 24 snap into thelower arms 26. The engagement of the arms or flanges is facilitated by arocking or arcuate motion of one slat relative to the other. Theengagement between the upper arms 24 and the lower arms 26 of adjacentawning slats is tight enough to provide a definite and positive initialholding of those slats. Consequently, a number of awning slats can beitnerconected together and held Without any fasteners. Once the variousawning slats have been assembled, they can then be fastened to therain-shed 50 and to the angle 36.

Whereas a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shownand described in the drawing and accompanying description it should beapparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made inthe form of the invention without affecting the scope thereof.

What I claim is:

1. An awning that comprises a plurality of individual awning slats and asupport for said slats; said slats being of resilient material and beingelongated and generally flat except along their longitudinal edges;flanges extending along both of said edges and being integral with saidslats and projecting laterally from the generally flat bodies of theslats; said flanges being generally S-shaped in cross section; eachS-shaped flange being so formed that the outside radius of the loop ofthe S that is: adjacent the slat body is substantially equal to theinside radius of the loop of the S that is spaced from the slat body, sothat two of said slats, inverted relative to each other, can beresiliently interlocked along adjacent longitudinaly edges by directengagement of the two S-shaped flanges extending along said edges witheach other, without any fasteners being required.

2. An awning that comprises a plurality of individual awning slats and asupport for said slats; said slats being of resilient material and beingelongated quadrilaterals and generally flat except along theirlongitudinal edges; flanges extending along both of said edges and beingintegral with said slats and projecting laterally from the generallyflat bodies of the slats; said flanges being generally S-shaped in crosssection; the loop portion of each S-shaped flange that is immediatelyadjacent the body of the slat to which it is attached comprehending anangle somewhat greater than said loop portion being outwardly bowedrelative to the body of the slat so that an inwardly opening throat ispresented; the remaining loop portion of each S-shaped flangecomprehending an angle somewhat less than 180 and being inwardly bowedrelative to the body of the slat; the S- shaped flanges being soproportioned, shaped and arranged that two of said slats, invertedrelative to each other, can be interlocked along adjacent longitudinaledges by laterally pressing and snapping the outer or free portion ofeach S-shaped flange into the throat of the S- shaped flange that isattached to and lies nearest the other slat, the two S-shaped flangesthen lying in snug contact substantially throughout the areas of theflanges and being resiliently interlocked.

3. An awning that comprises a plurality of individual awning slats and asupport for said slats; said slats being of resilient material and beingelongated and generally flat except at their longitudinal edges, whichhave stiffening means; said stiffening means including integral flangesthat project laterally from the generally flat bodies of the slats; saidflanges being generally S-shaped in cross section; each slat at the endof the awning having a straight tubular element telescopically receivedwithin the loop of the S-shaped flange that is adjacent the slat body,said tubular elements providing substantial rigidity for the ends of theawning; vertical slats arranged at each end of the awning; meanssecuring together the vertical slats at each end of the awning, neartheir lower ends; and fastening elements securing the upper ends of thevertical slats to the respective tubular elements.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,051,598 Johnson Jan. 28, 1913 2,095,434 Calkins Oct. 12, 19372,251,572 Kuhn et al Aug. 5, 1941 2,428,361 Doe Oct. 7, 1947 2,593,221Thompson et a1. Apr. 15, 1952 2,611,935 Kramer et a1. Sept. 30', 19522,619,691 Bottom Dec. 2, 1952 2,663,918 Pollock Dec. 29, 1953 2,673,378Poillon Mar. 30, 1954 2,685,111 Lundgren Aug. 3, 1954 2,726,425Degaetano Dec. 13, 1955 2,739,356 Aldridge et al Mar. 27, 1956 2,752,643Helt et a1. July 3, 1956

